Review by Kathy Lyon (Click on stars for an explanation)

This is not just another beautiful book. Compiled from a collection of works from academia, it is more scientific in format than many of those "first" books on a new topic. There are few veterinarians who treat numbers of amphibians, and many veterinarians who treat a few, so it is going to be helpful to have a text such as this for reference.

This book covers various aspects of amphibian captive husbandry and propagation. The diagnosis of disease in amphibians by the application of clinicopathologic techniques is discussed. Infectious, metabolic, nutritional, neoplastic, and idiopathic disorders are examined in detail. Chapters such as Clinical Toxicology, Trauma, and Protozoa and Metazoa Infecting Amphibians are extremely interesting. Bacterial and Viral Infections are included along with Husbandry, Water Quality, Restraint, Anesthesia, and Euthanasia. Anatomy illustrations make up one of the more informative chapters for the neophyte veterinarian. The 27 chapters end with Pathology of Amphibia. The 243 color plates are grouped in the center of the book. The text is also liberally illustrated with black-and-white photos and 54 tables. The book is designed for veterinary clinicians, but zoos and aquariums will also benefit from its information.

Krieger Publishing Co. (2001).

The book is 570 pages, hardcover (embossed cloth).

ISBN: 0-89464-917-5.

Reviewed 12/7/2001.